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The Family Organizer
by Rachel Paxton

The Family Organizer

by Rachel Paxton - rachel@creativehomemaking.com

I'm forever looking for ways to get better organized. It's even more of a challenge when you have a family to keep track of. The schedules, shopping lists, and tomorrow's to-do's are always being lost or shuffled from one place to another. I've put together a family organizer that helps me keep track of my family's activities from week to week. This organizer makes it easy to keep track of almost anything.

One day I was looking at the ready-made templates that came with my word processing program, and I noticed there were many home-related templates already made up for me to use for my organizer. There was a monthly calendar and a weekly menu planner and grocery shopping list. I made a calendar for every month of the year to write important dates to remember, and printed out enough weekly menu planners to last a
month or two.

The weekly meal planner has columns for every day of the week with "Breakfast," "Lunch," and "Dinner" listed for each day. Every weekend you write in your meals for the week, and then make up a shopping list to take to the grocery store. The menu planner has a place at the bottom to write in your shopping list, or you could make up a separate list. Download a free menu planner template from http://www.creativehomemaking.com/download.shtml. Just print, and photocopy as needed for your organizer.

The best way to organize your calendars and menu planners is in a three-ring binder. You can buy dividers that already have the months of the year printed on them. Just file your monthly calendars in the binder with your weekly menu planners in between. This is just the start. You can create sections in your binder for whatever you want. For instance, file your children's school or sports schedules in your organizer. Just punch holes in the pages and file them in the appropriate month. You could also include a list of phone numbers and addresses, or a list of family birthdays and anniversaries. You can buy folders for your binder that have pockets in them. Make one for greeting cards and one for coupons. How about one for your monthly bills? The possibilities are endless.

click here to continue reading...



Top News Headlines from CNN

Israel takes a time out to let aid into Gaza
Israel will halt its bombardment of Gaza for three hours every day to allow residents of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory to obtain much-needed supplies, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

Wednesday Jan 7th, 3:56 AM

Brown: Let journalists into Gaza
We have been trying to report as accurately as possible on the fighting in Gaza.

Tuesday Jan 6th, 6:17 PM

Al Qaeda message blames Obama for Gaza
An audio message reportedly from al Qaeda's deputy chief vows revenge for Israel's air and ground assault on Gaza and calls the Jewish state's actions against Hamas militants "a gift" from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.

Tuesday Jan 6th, 7:37 PM

Secret Service to unveil new presidential limo
As a candidate, Barack Obama promoted hybrid cars. Shortly after taking the oath of office, Obama will climb into the mother of all hybrids -- part car, part truck and, from the looks of it, part tank. In keeping with recent tradition, the Secret Service will place a brand-new presidential limousine into service for the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Tuesday Jan 6th, 10:15 AM

CNN's Gupta eyed for surgeon general
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, has been approached by Barack Obama's transition team about the U.S. surgeon general's post, according to sources inside the transition and at CNN. Gupta, a neurosurgeon, has served as a White House fellow and as a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton.

Tuesday Jan 6th, 5:09 PM


Food from NPR

A Life Dedicated To Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
London IT executive Andy Hayler has dined at every three-star restaurant in the French food guide. His travels have taken him all across the world to 60-plus elite restaurants. He speaks with us about his favorite meals, how he can afford this pricy hobby and his blog.
Monday Jan 5th, 10:00 AM

Five-Year-Old Chef Gets His Own Show
Julian Kreusser began cooking at age three. Two years later, he has his own television show on Portland cable access television. We talk with him about what it's like to be a culinary star so young.
Monday Jan 5th, 10:00 AM

Fishermen Make Mad Dash For Dungeness Crab
As many West Coast fisheries collapse, more fishermen are turning to the delectable Dungeness crab. It's one of the last thriving fisheries in California, but the winter race for the crabs means fewer fresh crabs on tables and smaller profits.
Sunday Jan 4th, 9:05 PM

Former White House Chef On Oval Office Tastes
On Wednesday, the White House chef will serve lunch to a table of five: four presidents and one president-elect. Walter Scheib, who spent 11 years as chef for Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, discusses Oval Office culinary tastes with host Guy Raz.
Sunday Jan 4th, 1:36 PM

Recession On The Rocks: Drinks For A Bad Economy
Lose your shirt in the stock market? Retirement funds dwindling? Wine consultant Tom Harrow shares some recommendations for what to drink to numb the economic pain.
Saturday Jan 3rd, 5:38 PM

 
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Ask Ausiello: '09's first spoilers!
Michael Ausiello rings in the new year with answers to pleas for scoop on ''Smallville,'' ''House,'' and ''CSI''

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After a monster of a casting dilemma, it appears likely that the actor will howl in ''Twilight'' sequel ''New Moon''

'Damages' season 2: EW review
The devious cable series starring Glenn Close is back tonight, and Ken Tucker says the cast only gets better

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We play oddsmaker on who will be revealed as the final member of the mechanical gang this season

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With the show's return next week, here are our dirty dozen of tunes we never want to hear on ''Idol'' again


Working Parents from BusinessWeek

Taking a Break From Facebook
For the new year, my teenager and her friend have gone on a fast?a Facebook fast. Concerned about becoming Facebook junkies, they've given friends the passwords to their respective Facebook pages and had the friends change the passwords, so the...
Tuesday Jan 6th, 11:15 AM

Have You Ever Thought About Quitting Your Job?
I returned to the office this morning after a nearly three-week holiday hiatus, which wasn?t exactly a vacation since I ended up working half of the time. Thus, with some trepidation, I stepped into the lobby of the building where...
Monday Jan 5th, 2:50 PM

Defining The Middle Class
Last week Vice President-elect Joe Biden was given a new brief -- to form a White House Task Force on Working Families, targeted at raising the living standards of the middle-class. In the announcement, President-elect Obama said "My administration will...
Wednesday Dec 31st, 5:08 AM

Home Invasion: Teens With Web Cams
Aah the holidays. Time to be home with the family. Only this season, my fourteen-year-old's friends' seem to be home with us as well, at a moment's notice and at all hours of the day. Now generally, I love it...
Tuesday Dec 23rd, 5:13 PM

Santa Claus: Yes? No? Sort of?
I just discovered yet another controversy in the modern parent's world. Should we allow our children to believe in Santa Claus? I thought Santa was a given in households that celebrate Christmas, but a recent blog posting on the Chicago...
Tuesday Dec 23rd, 5:38 AM


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